Fire at Adrian’s Metal Recyclers on Manufacturer Dr at Molendinar caused by workmen using power tools near flammable substances

The boss of a Gold Coast metal recycling facility says a fire which ripped through his business after a mishap caused a huge amount of damage.

The boss of a Gold Coast scrap yard says a fire which ripped through his business caused about a million dollars worth of damage.

But thankfully a worker injured in the blaze at Adrian’s Metal Recyclers on Manufacturer Dr at Molendinar on Monday is on the mend and due to leave hospital soon, according to CEO Adrian Fuller.

Smoke billows from the Molendinar fire. Picture: Queensland Ambulance Service

About 40 Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) firefighters battled the fire, which was pumping out toxic smoke and resulted in a Public Safety Preservation Act declaration by Queensland Police.

Mr Fuller said: “Everything (was affected). All the machines here are on hire. All the machines got burned down.”

“We want to thank the Queensland fire brigade. They have been so f**king cool – they saved us,” he said.

Adrian’s Metal Recyclers CEO Adrian Fuller pictured in 2020. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Half the building got done. We knocked it down. About 100 (cars were burned). The list goes on.

“We’re open now but it’ll take another week (to clean up). We’ve been working 24 hours to get it done.”

Mr Fuller said a worker injured in the blaze was “doing great and wants to come back to work”.

“But I said have it off. Yes (he’s in hospital), but he’ll be out this afternoon,” he said.

Mr Fuller said Adrian’s Metal Recyclers is self-insured.

Adrians Metal Recyclers CEO Adrian Fuller says he and his workers have been working flat out to clean up the Molendinar site after Monday's fire.

QFES superintendent Greg Tomlinson has linked the fire to “workmen using power tools” near a “lot of flammable liquids”.

Reason behind ‘very intense’ Molendinar blaze

Earlier: Investigators have discovered workmen using power tools near flammable substances likely sparked a savage fire at a Gold Coast scrap yard, which produced plumes of toxic smoke.

Several dozen firefighters were needed to battle the blaze on Manufacturer Drive at Molendinar, which began about 11.20am on Monday and prompted Queensland Police to make a Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) emergency declaration.

Smoke from the fire at Molendinar on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied

On Tuesday, shortly before Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Superintendent Greg Tomlinson detailed the suspected cause of the fire, a post emerged on the Facebook page of the affected business, Adrian’s Metal Recyclers.

“It was a BIG day yesterday for our team,” the post read.

“Just want to say a big THANK YOU to our community for the messages and phone calls of support and well wishes.

“Also Queensland Fire and Emergency Services – QFES the Heroes of the day!

“We are back open today at our Molendinar site, see you there.”

Meanwhile, Supt Tomlinson said on radio the “very intense” blaze was not being treated as suspicious.

Cars and tyres were in the yard as the fire took hold.

“We understand that there was some workmen on site and that is probably where the initial fire started, due to workmen using power tools … ,” he told the ABC.

“The actual facility was a recycling yard. They have a lot of motor vehicles that they recycle for spare parts and bits and pieces.

“Part of the inherent risk with doing that sort of business is there’s a lot of flammable liquids. Oils, fuels, tyres as well, so that all contributes to what everyone got to see yesterday. That extremely black and toxic smoke that was produced from the fire.”

Smoke from the fire at Molendinar.

Mr Tomlinson said a large amount of water was used to douse the fire.

QFES worked with the Department of Environment and Science and environmental health officers from Gold Coast City Council to prevent run-off from the site.

Queensland Ambulance paramedics treated a man in his 50s for “significant burns” before taking him to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Residents living near the fire reported feeling their homes shake from various explosions.

Fireys probe cause of huge blaze in industrial area

July 12: Specialist fire investigators have been probing a large blaze which broke out in a Gold Coast scrap metal yard, prompting a Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) emergency declaration.

Several dozen firefighters were called on to battle the fire at Adrian’s Metal Recyclers on Manufacturer Dr at Molendinar, which began about 11.20am on Monday.

The fire which produced a stark black plume of smoke as it consumed cars, tyres and other objects was extinguished by 6pm.

The Bulletin has asked Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) what caused the fire and explosions which rocked nearby residences and left occupants on edge.

At this stage, QFES believes the fire which left one man suffering significant burns was not suspicious in nature, a spokeswoman said.

Queensland Police Service issued the PSPA soon after the fire ignited due to “smoke and potential hazards”, and it was reeled back soon after 4pm.

The public was asked to avoid an exclusion zone and to remain indoors with doors and windows closed.

Scrap yard fire under control after ‘explosions’

July 11: More than 40 firefighters brought a massive fire in a Gold Coast scrap metal yard under control after it sent plumes of smoke over the city and badly injured a man.

Six Queensland Fire and Emergency Services firefighting crews were called to the blaze at Adrian’s Metal Recyclers on Manufacturer Drive at Molendinar about 11.20am on Monday.

About half a dozen more crews joined the fight, which finally ended after 2pm once the fire was brought under control.

Gold Coast police declared an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA). Picture: Queensland Police Service

Several cars and a quantity of tyres were seen burning in the yard as it was engulfed by the flames

Large plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the area and was visible from Surfers Paradise and other parts of the city.

Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics treated a man of undisclosed age for “significant burns”, according to a statement.

He was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Residents living nearby have taken to social media, reporting their homes shaking from an explosion at the yard and the unpleasant smell of smoke.

Smoke from the fire at Molendinar on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied

In a statement at 12.26pm, police confirmed “an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) due to a fire in an industrial area at Molendinar”.

The blaze has been producing “smoke and potential hazards” and an exclusion zone encompasses Precision and Export drives, Activity Crescent, Production Ave and a nearby section of Smith St.

It was revoked shortly after 4pm.

“Members of the public are advised to avoid the area and those within the exclusion zone are asked to remain indoors with their windows closed until further notice,” the statement read.

The PSPA is expected to continue. Fire and council investigators are on scene.

Follow @LukeWMortimer